Parking Lots, Parking Meters and a New Transportation System

By Jesús Aguado

A safer, air-conditioned, more comfortable public transportation system will start operations next year. Administered and operated by the local government, it will cost a currently estimated fare of 12 pesos per ride.

Although it still needs to be authorized by the City Council, the Mobility Council approved the first step. The Mobility Council visualizes the placement of parking meters in some streets in the Historic Center, opening public parking lots on the periphery, and having four routes of modern public transportation.

Previously, Miguel Alceda, the director of that new council, talked with Atención and told us that five routes were considered for the new transportation system. Recently, Mayor Ricardo Villarreal told us that the city council had to approve the decisions and, in addition, had to launch a national call for companies interested in offering the parking meter service.

The winning company, said Villarreal, will have the financing of at least 12 buses, with an estimated value of 20 million pesos, as a condition to offering the new “modern” transportation. The investment would be reimbursed through profits from the parking meters. According to Mayor Villarreal, the winning company will have the highest tax in the country. The highest is currently in Mexico City with a 32 percent, but San Miguel’s tax must be even higher.

The routes considered for the new transportation system—which will, for the first time, operate at night—go from Salida a Celaya, Estación, the exit to Dolores, and the exit to Querétaro to the Historic Center and vice versa. The fare will be accessible, and that is how automobile traffic will be removed from the center of town. Each bus will have a capacity of 30 passengers. The service can be administrated by the Mobility Council, or they can hire an expert to do it.

The parking meters, parking lots in the periphery, and the bus transportation, will start operations next year.